Steam-trap.



No. 843,686. PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

W. Y. MOPFAT &' T. W. BUTLER.

STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION rum) MAR. 1a. 1906.

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PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

W. Y. MOPPAT & T. W. BUTLER. STEAM TRAP.

AfPLIOA'I'ION FILED M .AB.15, 1906.

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WITNESSES. IIVI/ENTORS ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS coy, WAsHlpmraN, p. c

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WILLIAM YOUNG MOFFAT AND THOMAS W. BUTLER, OF DUNMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM=TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed March 15, 1906. Serial No. 306,255-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM YOUNG MOFFAT and THOMAS I/V. BUTLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Dunmore, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-T raps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in steam-traps and it particularly pertains to a construction in which the steam and water of condensation are constantly injected under pressure into a tiltable basin having a swinging movement under a weight contained therein and in its swinging movement opening a discharge-port, through which the condensed moisture egresses.

In connection with the above general'features of construction and operation novel means are provided for regulating the tension at which the basin swings to effect a discharge of its contents, and means are further provided for limiting the basin both in its positive and reactive tilting movements.

The detailed construction will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views therein.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the basin and support therefor. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a view of one end of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the rocking shaft carrying the basin and journaled in a supporting-frame. Figs. 5 and 6 are details fragmentary sectional views through the shaft and frame on the lines a a and b b of Fig. 3, showing, respectively, the arrangement of the inlet and outlet passages. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing a modified construction of the shaft and journal therefor, and Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

In the practicalembodiment of our invention we employ a supporting-frame of rectangular outline and inverted-V shape, comprising angular standards 1, arranged on opposite sides in converging paths, carrying at their lower ends shoes 2, by which the frame is secured to a foundation and braced by integral cross-bars 3, disposed a short distance above the shoes 2. The oppositely-disposed pairs of standards 1 converge toward their upper ends and are there united by an integral crosspiece 5, which in each instance forms one member of a bearing and in this functionis constructed with a centrally-located concave seat, the complementary member of which bearing is constituted of a plate 6, formed with a corresponding concaved bearing-seat and yieldably superimposed upon the journal member 5, being held thereupon by a bolt 7, extending through the plate 6 and threaded into the member 5 and being retained yieldably in its position by expansive spiral springs 8, surrounding the bolt and restrieting the plate 7 in its vertical movement or play.

A hollow shaft 9 is ournaled in the framebearings, and, as shown in Fig. 4, is constructed with a partition 10 centrally thereof,

which divides the shaft 9 into compartments 11 and 12, closed at their ends by plugs 13, threaded thereinto. The compartment 11, which, owing to its function,we shall designate the inlet-chamber, is formed with an inlet-opening 14 in its outer end and at its inner end with a series of discharge-orifices 15. The opening 14 is of sufficient size to be in constant registry with a port 16, formed in the journal member 5 adjacent thereto, which has communication with a steam-inj ecting conductor 17.

The compartment 12, which we shall designate the outlet-chamber, is provided at its outer end with an elongated discharge-passage 18, communicating in one position of the trap With a port 19 in the journal member 5 adjacent thereto, which has connection with an ejecting-conductor 20. At its inner end the compartment 12 is formed with an opening 21, which communicates with a laterallyextending tube 22, carried by the shaft 9.

' The tube 22 projects at an incline'into the receiving-basin, which comprises three elements-to wit, a centrally-located hollow cylinder 23, formed with internally-threaded ends 24, a counterbalance-weight 25, threaded into one end of said cylinder and constituting a closure therefor, and the basin proper,

26, of greater diameter than the cylinder and threaded into the other end thereof.

The weight 25 is formed upon its outer side with diametrically-alined recesses 27 for the reception of a spanner-wrench in screwing and unscrewing the same in the cylinder 23. The means for limiting the movement of the basin in either direction comprises chains 27, having their ends secured. to the standards 1 and to the weight and to the cylinder 23.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the direct-outlet port 18 is eliminated, and in lieu thereof a series of axially-inclined radially-extendmg passages 28 are provided in the end of the shaft 9. The passages 28 are designed in one position of the shaft 9 to enter into registry with similarly-constructed passages 29, provided in the end of a pipe 30, united by an elbowjoint 31 to the ejection-conductor 20. The pipe is stationary and extends between the bearing-plates of the supporting-frame.

In the modified construction a different form of bearing is employed, whichis adapted to compensate for wear, comprising a casing 32, threaded upon the enlarged end 33 of the shaft 9 and provided at its free end with an annular inturned flange 34, which is threaded to receive a retaining-bushing 35. The pipe 30 is provided on its free end with a flange 36, and a spiral expansive spring 37 is interposed between the flange 36 and the bushing 35. Ball-bearings 38 arearranged adjacent to the bushing 35 between spacing annuli 39, arranged on each side thereof. The bearings 38 and annuli 39 serve to compensate for friction when the bushing 35 is tightened to take up wear between the parts. It is ap parent that by enlarging either of the passages 28 or 29 the bearing illustrated in Figs. 7 and .8 may be applied to the inlet end of the compartment 9 as advantageously as to the outlet end, as shown.

In operation it is assumed that the trap is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the steam and particles of moisture carried therewith enter the inlet-chamber 11 of the shaft 9 through the pipe 17, port 16, and opening 14;. Under the requisite pressure the steam is forced through the openings 15 into the basin 26, where it is condensed, and when the amount of moisture in the basin 26 possesses sufficient weight to overcome the counterbalance 25 the basin swings into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. During the swinging movement of the basin the inletopening 14, owing to its width, is constantly in registry with the port 16, so that the pres' sure of steam entering through pipe 17 is always maintained; but the outlet-openmg 18 does not completely register with the port- 19 until the basin shall have reached the termination of its downwardly-swinging movement, at which time the pressure of the.

moisture has been ejected from the basin 26, the structure, under the influence of the weight 25, will swing back to initial position and the operation above described is continued ad infinitum. The swinging movement of the basin in either direction is limited by the chains 27.

The modified construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 operates in the manner above described, the ports 28 and 29 being in registry in the lowermost position of the basin and the contents thereof egressing therethrough and being out of registry in the normal position of the basin.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A steam-trap comprising a basin having a weighted end, a hollow shaft extending transversely through said basin and having rigid connection therewith, and bearings in .which the ends of said shaft are journaled,

said shaft being provided with a central partition dividing the same into independent compartments, one of said compartments serving as an inlet-chamber and being formed at its free end with an opening adapted to be in constant registry with an inletconductor, and at its other end with openings communicating with the interior of the basin, and the other of said compartments serving as an outlet-chamber and being formed at its free end withan opening adapted to be in registry in a predetermined position of the basin with an outlet-conductor and at its other end with an opening communicating with the interior of the basin.

2. A steam-trap comprising a basin having a weighted end, a hollow shaft extending transversely through said basin and having rigid connection therewith, and bearing in which the ends of said shaft are journaled, said shaft being provided with a central partition dividing'the same into independent compartments severally having communication with the interior of the basin, one of said compartments serving as an inletchamber, and being formed at its free end with an enlarged opening adapted to be in constant registry in any position of the basin with an inlet-conductor extending through the adjacent bearing and the other of said compartments serving as an outlet-chamber and being formed with an opening adapted to be in registry with an outlet-conductor provided in the adjacent bearing for the end of the shaft in a predetermined position.

3. A steam-trap comprising a basin, having a weighted end, a hollow shaft extending IIC bodied in said bearing for taking up Wear be- 1 In testimony whereof We afiix our sigma tween the shaft and the conductors in their tures in presence of two Witnesses. contacting relation, said shaft being formed WILLIAM YOUNG MOFFAT. with a central partition dividing the saine THOMAS W. BUTLER.

having communication With the basin-inte- T. B. JACKSON,

5 into independent compartments severaliyi Witnesses:

rior. CHAS. 1?. JONES. 

